News

Audrey Sewell stays at transport ministry

AUDREY Sewell, the former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education who was temporarily assigned to the transport and works ministry, is to remain at that ministry.

The disclosure was made by Transport and Works Minister Dr Omar Davies during yesterday's meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament, which has been examining the 2012/13 budget.

Sewell was transferred to the Ministry of Transport and Works Ministry on December 1 last year, after former permanent secretary for transport and works, Dr Alwyn Hales, was sent on vacation leave to facilitate investigations into the controversial Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP).

Hales had been due back on February 1 this year .

Yesterday, the transport and works minister was in the process of introducing the members of the team accompanying him at the committee meeting said Sewell, who had served for three years as permanent secretary for the Ministry of Education, was now permanent at his ministry.

The auditor general's report on JDIP, made public in November, revealed deficiencies in the management of the US$400-million JDIP. As a result, Patrick Wong, then head of the National Works Agency — the lead local entity on the programme — resigned, while JDIP was transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister. The resignation of the then minister of transport and works, Mike Henry, followed shortly thereafter.